Pages

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Interview with a Parker Part II: Andrea

The sense that we had finally made it through all of the preparation
and are doing what we know God has called us to do in the place He has called
us to be.

Welcome sign for Tenwek

What is the funniest thing you’ve seen?

Newspaper picture

Pretty amusing is this newspaper picture and caption which
really had nothing to do with any article on the page.

What is the coolest thing you have seen?

I think it is the scenery and wildlife we have seen. Going on
safari and seeing the vastness of the Mara is humbling. The animals in the wild
are beautiful. And traveling over the escarpment of the Rift Valley is
breathtaking. Pictures never do justice to the beauty of seeing it all in
person.

On Lake Naivasha, a storm in the distance

Giraffes against the skyline

Elephant

What is your favorite part of living at Tenwek?

I really enjoy working with the residents and my fellow surgeons.
There is a very collaborative spirit and taking call is actually fun….most of
the time. I also love the weather which is frequently sunny and mild like a
warm spring day. I enjoy being able to run in the beautiful setting that the
surrounding hills provides.

Two of the residents operating together

The view on my run

What new foods do you eat?

Madison talked about the types of new food we eat, but one thing
that is fun about living in Kenya is the freshness of all we eat. The majority
of our produce comes from local small farms and we buy directly from the people
who grow the food. We even have our own garden in our back yard. There is an
avocado tree out front which means we eat a lot of very fresh guacamole. And
the fruits we eat are rarely imported.

Butternut squash, scallions, kale and cabbage

Loquat tree outside our house

Do you miss any foods?

I miss grilling out. In the summer, that is something we would do
on a fairly regular basis, and I miss the smell and the taste of grilled food.

What do you do during the day?

Most days for me are spent in the hospital, either in the operating
room or seeing patients in clinic. The days are busy. We usually start with
rounds, which is seeing each of the patients in the hospital in order to assess
them and make decisions for care. Then we have a meeting or teaching session.
We then start cases in the operating room or go to clinic. We are usually able
to make it home for lunch with Madison, which is very different from the states
and a wonderful part of our lives here. The afternoon is similar to the
morning. If I am not on call, I go home once cases and patient care have
finished. If I am on call, sometimes the day doesn’t end until the next morning.

What do you miss most about the United States?

Family, friends and convenience. It is hard to be away from those I
love. I miss the ease of conversation that comes with seeing people on a daily
basis; I didn’t miss any of the details. Six months is a long time to go
without spending time with or hugging those we love. We are so grateful for
technology that allows us to email and even Skype sometimes.

Madison on Skype

Convenience is such a part of life in America that it is easily
taken for granted. Living in Kenya takes a lot of planning, something that has
taken (and is taking) time to adjust to. There’s no fast food or take out
beyond Nairobi (4 hours away). While there are small markets with staples
easily accessible, there are no grocery stores near. And there is little in the
way of prepared foods to grab from a cupboard or freezer for dinner. Sometimes
it would be nice to swing through a drive-through.

What do you want people to know about Kenya?

While not a problem specific only to Kenya, there is dire need for
surgical care in Kenya as in much of the developing world. A recent Lancet
report, summarized in this BBC article (http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32452249),
highlights the vast need. The numbers in Kenya are similar to those in
Bangladesh. We are working to train surgeons who will serve the people of Kenya
with the love of Jesus.

Residents and consultants at this year's spiritual retreat (Bob and I stayed at Tenwek to take call)